Soft and Chewy Date Cookie Recipe: Sweet & Delicious
This date cookie recipe is one of my mother’s favorite cookies, and she is passing the recipe along for us to enjoy! These cookies are perfect for any occasion. You will want to try this recipe during the holidays, at family gatherings, or to enjoy a sweet treat anytime.
My First Experience with This Date Cookie Recipe
This was the first time I had made this recipe, so I headed to my parent’s house to get all the tips and tricks from my mother. She has made this recipe many times, and you will always learn little things.
Although she helped, she guided me along so I could get used to how large to make the well for the filling and how thin to make the cookie topping. This is not about perfection, as each cookie comes out in its unique shape.
These are a pretty standard cookie recipe, but the secret is in the date filling. My husband enjoys sweet dates, so I couldn’t wait to get them home for a taste test. They passed! Now, I get to share them with you.
The Health Benefits and Natural Sweetness of Dates
Dates offer several health benefits due to their rich nutritional profile. Here are some of the key benefits:
1. High in Fiber
Dates are an excellent source of dietary fiber, which aids in digestion and promotes overall gut health.
2. Rich in Antioxidants
Dates contain various antioxidants which help protect your cells from free radicals and reduce inflammation.
3. Nutrient-Rich
Dates are packed with essential nutrients, including vitamins (like B6) and minerals (such as potassium, magnesium, copper, and manganese), which support overall health. When making a date cookie recipe, including these nutrient-rich dates is great.
4. Natural Sweetener
Dates can be used as a natural sweetener in recipes, reducing the need for refined sugar while adding additional nutrients. This makes a date cookie recipe both delicious and nutritious.
5. Blood Sugar Regulation
Despite their natural sweetness, dates have a low glycemic index (GI), which means they have a lower impact on blood sugar levels, making them a better choice for those managing diabetes, like my husband. Incorporating dates into a cookie recipe can be a health-conscious choice.
These benefits make dates a nutritious ingredient to incorporate into a balanced diet.
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Tips for Success: Choose the Right Dates
Medjool Dates
Medjool dates are known for their rich, caramel-like flavor, which adds natural sweetness and depth to baked goods. They are soft, chewy, and moist, perfect for blending into dough or batter. Their texture helps retain moisture in baked goods such as cookies, cakes, or bars.
Medjool dates are large, so they are easy to pit and chop. This makes them ideal for recipes where dates are a key ingredient. They’re packed with natural sugars, fiber, and nutrients, enhancing the nutritional profile of your baked items.
Deglet Noor Dates
Deglet Noor dates have a slightly less intense sweetness than Medjool dates and a more subtle honey-like flavor, making them a good choice for recipes where the dates complement rather than dominate the other flavors.
They are firmer and drier than Medjool dates, which makes them easier to chop finely and incorporate into doughs or as toppings. Deglet Noor dates hold their shape better during baking, making them ideal for bread, scones, or granola use.
Why These Dates Work Best:
Natural Sweetness
Medjool and Deglet Noor dates provide a rich, natural sweetness, reducing the need for added sugars in recipes.
Moisture
Medjool dates, in particular, add moisture, which benefits softer baked goods like cakes or cookies.
Caramelization
When baked, dates caramelize beautifully, enhancing the flavor and texture of your recipe.
How to Make These Easy Date-Filled Cookies
- Cream together, shortening and sugar. Add Eggs. This is a key step in many date cookie recipes.
- Add dry ingredients sifted together. Then, add the remaining ingredients: milk and vanilla.
- Drop dough by spoonful onto a baking sheet, making a little well each, and put a teaspoon of date filling.
- Filling: Combine sugar, dates, and water. Cook until smooth, stirring.
- Top with a dab of cookie dough. This completes the preparation for your date cookies.
Find the Measurements and Full Recipe Below: Jump to Recipe
Tips When Making This Recipe
- This recipe doesn’t require you to chop small pieces of dates
- When boiling dates, stir frequently to caramelize for the recipe.
- Always cream the shortening and sugar before adding the eggs.
- Your cookie mixture will be ready once you add the dry ingredients, milk, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer. Use this method for a perfect date cookie.
- Drop cookies by spoonful.
- Make wells with your fingers or a spoon and fill with date mixture. This is a fun step in preparing date cookie recipes.
- Keep a bowl of water handy to keep your fingers wet to avoid sticking
- Place a thin piece of batter on top; remember, each cookie is unique, and you are not looking for perfection here.
What you’ll love about this recipe:
The Best Date Cookie Recipe
Soft and Chewy Date Cookie Recipe: Sweet & Delicious
Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- Measuring Cups
- Parchment Paper
- Small Saucepan
- Cookie Sheets
- Electric Hand Mixer
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup shortening
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 3½ cups flour
- 1 tsp soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp Salt
- ⅛ tsp cinnamon
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
Filling
- 2 cups chopped dates
- ¾ cup white sugar
- ¾ cup water
Instructions
Cookie Dough
- Cream together shortening and brown sugar, then add eggs
- Add dry ingredients sifted together, then add milk and vanilla
- Beat with electric mixer until blended
Date Filling
- Combine white sugar, dates, and water
- Bring to a boil and then simmer in a saucepan until smooth, stirring occassionlly.
Make the Cookies
- Drop dough by spoonful onto cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
- Make a little well in each and put a teaspoon of date filling
- Top with a dab of cookie dough
- Bake 12-15 minutes at 350℃
Notes
Nutrition
Storage Tips:
Once the cookies reach room temperature, store them in a glass covered storage tray or plastic wrap. You can also store them in an airtight container.
Looking to change up the original recipe?
- Create a date-nut filling by adding your favorite nuts to the dates
- Swap white flour with whole wheat flour
- You can easily make a double batch; just double the ingredients
- Love the taste of dates? Add extra dates.
Did you make this delicious date cookies?
Let my Mom know if you love this recipe; share your results or variations. We look forward to your comments❤️!
Hey there, I’m Cheryl
I’m a proud mom, wife, business professional, and Maritimer who loves decorating and organization. From daily essentials to interior design, join me as I share my next project, plan, or tutorial. Using simple planning and organization strategies, I love to help folks like you bring more beauty and harmony into your lives and living spaces.
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